Jane Peel reports on the decision and reaction to it

The House of Lords has ruled that they should not qualify for damages when many bereaved relatives have been given nothing.

The five lords voted three-two to uphold an appeal by the chief constable of South Yorkshire against an earlier decision to grant the officers compensation.

Ninety-six football fans died and more than 700 were injured at Hillsborough.

Wider issue

The BBC's Joshua Rozenberg: Case has wider implications for all emergency services

Simon Allen, the four officers' solicitor, said: "My clients will be disappointed, but hopefully they will see the wider issue, that the right of professional rescuers to sue for psychiatric injury has been established by the House of Lords.

"The chief constable's main argument was that professional rescuers should not recover (damages) for psychiatric injury.

"They have said these rescuers don't recover because they had no risk of physical injury, or perceived risk of physical injury, because the crush had finished, they were dealing with the bodies.

Many relatives were also refused money

"But if the professional rescuer is at risk of physical injury, or perceived risk, and suffers psychiatric injury, then they can sue."

Trevor Hicks, who leads the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said he sympathised with the officers but pointed out that many relatives had been refused compensation.

"Sadly, we think the decision is a correct one on this occasion," he added.

Fourteen officers have already won settlements totalling £1.2m for the post-traumatic stress they suffered.

The four whose claim has been rejected were less closely involved, but have fought their employers to the House of Lords.

All four police officers have taken retirement on grounds of ill health and and no longer work for South Yorkshire Police.